
This Is Why
1,056 episodes — Page 10 of 22

The ‘pick n mix’ of disinformation which fed the summer riots
Sky News can reveal that the majority of the most influential accounts responsible for spreading disinformation and orchestrating the far-right riots in the UK came from accounts and users abroad. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire, who has been investigating who is behind the rise of the far-right and how online platforms are giving oxygen to radicalisation. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth

The weight loss drug with a waitlist
Sky News has revealed thousands of people with severe obesity are being denied access to effective treatment, partly because of a slow NHS rollout of the weight loss jab Wegovy. Just 800 of the estimated 13,500 patients eligible to start receiving Wegovy had been prescribed the injection through hospital weight loss services by the end of April. Studies show people lose on average 15% of their body weight within months of starting treatment. On today's Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our science correspondent Thomas Moore about why it's so difficult to get weight loss drugs in the UK, and the impact on patients who've been denied the jab. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont

How the conflict in the Middle East might put Donald Trump in the White House
Sky News and NBC News have joined forces for a new podcast - The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim. For the first episode, Yalda is in Jerusalem and Richard is covering events in Lebanon. They discuss what they are seeing and hearing on both sides of the border as the conflict appears to be "spiralling into an abyss". And with the US election now four weeks away, they ask whether the economic and military consequences of the war could determine where it’s Donald Trump or Kamala Harris in the Oval Office. Click here to watch the full episode on YouTube. To get in touch or to share questions for Engel and Hakim, email [email protected].

USA '24: A storm of misinformation as early voting begins
It's less than a month to go until the US election, and Sky News' team of US correspondents have been reporting on the campaign trail across the country. Martha Kelner is in the swing state of Arizona, where early voting is under way. Abortion is a key issue here, and as well as their presidential vote, Arizonans have the option to vote on whether to enshrine the right to choose abortion in the state constitution. With the full force of Hurricane Milton hitting Florida, James Matthews and Mark Stone are in the west of the state, with James in Sarasota and Mark in St Petersburg. They discuss the impact of misinformation, and if the response from Biden's administration could sway votes. And, as US vice president Kamala Harris goes on a media blitz - what do the podcasts and TV panel shows she's chosen to appear on tell us about who the Democrats are targeting ahead of the 5 November vote. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont

Milton: The hurricane scientists were dreading
Hurricane Milton has torn through Florida bringing 100mph winds, flooding and storm surges with it. Several people have lost their lives, and more than three million homes and businesses have been left without power. On today’s Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to our US correspondent James Matthews from the heart of the storm in Tampa, Florida, about the scale of the damage so far. He’s also joined in the studio by science and technology editor Tom Clarke to explore why this part of the US is so susceptible to hurricanes, and why scientists were so worried about this storm in particular. 👉 Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts 👈 Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont

What's gone on with the Tory leadership contest?
On Tuesday afternoon, James Cleverly got the most votes from Tory MPs in the party’s leadership contest. One day later and the next round of voting went a different way. Cleverly failed to make the final two. Party members will now choose between Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick in a clear indication that the party will shift towards the right in the months after its election defeat. So, what happened with Wednesday’s vote, and who will the Tory membership be most attracted to as they decide the party's new leader? Niall Paterson and our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh discuss it all on this episode. Producer: Soila ApparicioEditor: Paul Stanworth

Can special advisers be too powerful?
The departure of Sue Gray, as Sir Keir Starmer's most senior adviser in Number 10, has shone a spotlight on the role of special advisers in government. So on today’s Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our deputy political editor Sam Coates to find out exactly what role these advisers, often known as SpAds, play in the running of the country. Niall also speaks to former Conservative special adviser, and author of The Secret Life of Special Advisers, Peter Cardwell, about what it was like to do the job. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth

Can there be a peaceful solution in the Middle East?
It's one year on since Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel, which was followed by Israel's mission to eradicate the terror group in Gaza. In short, what followed was a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Iranian attacks on Israel, and Israel fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon. With the region yet to find a sustainable path away from conflict, on the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson takes a step back and asks if a peaceful solution can ever be found. Niall is joined by Alistair Bunkall, our Middle East correspondent, and our military analyst Professor Michael Clarke, to discuss if Israel can keep up its fighting against Hezbollah and Hamas, and deal with the rising tensions with Iran, against the backdrop of a continuing crisis in Gaza, with hostages still being held there. Producer: Soila Apparicio

USA 24: Vice Presidents, hurricanes, and war in the Middle East
With only a month to go until the US election, Sky’s dedicated team of correspondents goes on the road to gauge what voters in key swing states make of the choice for president. This week a series of unexpected events have been derailing the campaign. Iranian ballistic missiles poured into Israel, putting foreign policy at the top of the agenda at the vice presidential debate as Democrat pick Tim Walz and Republican JD Vance went head to head for the first time. Plus, Martha Kelner and Mark Stone have been tracking the destruction of Hurricane Helene, the deadliest storm since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Will the destruction, and the response from the candidates, shift the polls in this key swing state? Keep up with all the latest in our US election liveblog and check out the Sky News poll tracker. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont .

On the ground in Lebanon and Israel: What happens next?
With the Middle East on the edge of an all-out war, Sky News Daily takes a look at how the situation looks for civilians on the ground, and what could happen next. Niall Paterson is joined by special correspondent, Alex Crawford, who is on the ground in the old city of Tyre in the south of Lebanon. He also speaks to Deborah Haynes, our security and defence editor, who is near the Israel-Lebanon border. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker

Beneath the Iron Dome: How Israel's air defence system works
Israel has a layered air defence system, which has acted to protect the country from the latest wave of incoming missiles from Iran. The more well-known Iron Dome brings down frequent incoming short-range rocket systems fired at Israel by both Hezbollah and Hamas. David's Sling, and Arrow 2 and 3, are built to tackle medium-range and long-range ballistic missiles, but how does Israel's defence system work? Niall Paterson sits down with Sky's military expert Professor Michael Clarke to learn more about the range of defences. Producer: Alex Edden Editor: Philly Beaumont

The Tory final four: Could any of them be PM in 2029?
Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat are contenders to become the next Conservative Party leader. With infighting already playing out among the candidates, and outgoing leader Rishi Sunak calling for party unity, can whoever is successfully chosen last until, and even win, the next general election in 2029? On this episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is at the Tory party conference in Birmingham, and with political editor Beth Rigby, they discuss the leadership hopefuls' campaigns, and the mood among members for their chances against Labour. Plus, Niall catches up with Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith, former Tory MPs Penny Mordaunt, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, former special adviser to Boris Johnson Tim Montgomerie, and Conservative commentator Iain Dale. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth

What can the rest of the world do to stop a Middle East war?
President Biden has said "all-out war" in the Middle East has to be avoided after Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Beirut. The White House has tried to tread carefully to contain tensions between Israel and both Hamas and Hezbollah, who are backed by Iran. But the strikes which killed Nasrallah happened hours after Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the United Nations - raising questions about the effectiveness of diplomacy and what the international community can do to avoid escalation. On this episode of the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by military analyst Michael Clarke and Sky's international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn to ask what the world's biggest powers can do to prevent war in the region. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Paul Stanworth

USA 2024: Scandal for North Carolina and voting in Virginia
Sky News’ team of US correspondents bring you original stories and analysis from their reporting across the country in the build-up to the presidential election. This time – what will the scandal involving Donald Trump-backed candidate Mark Robinson mean in North Carolina? They are at early voting in Virginia and discuss what Hurricane Helene means for the campaign in Florida. Mark Stone is in Washington, Dominic Waghorn is in New York after his trip to Virginia and Martha Kelner is in Florida. Producers: Rosie Gillott, Emma Rae Woodhouse, Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont

What is Hezbollah and how powerful is it?
The threat of an all-out conflict between Israel and Hezbollah seems to be edging closer after Israel rejected Lebanon ceasefire plans. The Iranian-backed militant group has been a force in Middle East politics and conflict for decades, but has suffered heavy losses in the last few weeks after Israeli attacks. Niall Paterson speaks to Sky's international affairs editor Dominic Waghorn about how much support Hezbollah has within Lebanon and Iran's role with the group.Plus, defence and security editor Deborah Haynes talks to Niall about how significant Hezbollah's military capabilities are.Producer: Alex Edden Editor: Wendy Parker

How sanctioned goods are getting into Russia
Sanctions on Russia were introduced two years ago shortly after the start of the country’s Ukrainian invasion. The purpose? To limit the Russian war machine and starve Russian oligarchs of access to luxury items. Our economics and data editor Ed Conway noticed that sales of British luxury vehicles to Russia had fallen away to almost nothing, yet sales to former Soviet states such as Azerbaijan and Georgia have massively increased. The suspicion was that these cars would then somehow make it into Russia, but we did not know how. In this episode, Niall Paterson sits down with Ed to find out the process by which sanctioned luxury European cars find their way to Moscow. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John

Will Starmer's 'no pain, no gain' strategy pay off?
As Sir Keir Starmer delivers his first leader's speech as prime minister to a packed-out conference hall in Liverpool, can he convince his party, and the country, that Labour's promise to deliver "national renewal" in return for short-term pain will be worth it? Niall Paterson gets the reaction of Labour's front bench from the conference floor and sits down with Sky's deputy political editor Sam Coates. They discuss if Sir Keir can convince the public that austerity is not a possibility. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont

Labour’s trust issues and can Rachel Reeves fix them?
As the UK's first female chancellor delivers her speech to the Labour Party's annual conference in Liverpool, the Sky News Daily asks why the new government is already fighting to regain the trust of the public. Host Niall Paterson is joined by Sky's political editor Beth Rigby and economic and data editor Ed Conway in the conference hall to comb through Rachel Reeves's speech. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont

USA 2024: Who's to blame for political violence?
With seven weeks to go until the US goes to the polls, Sky’s dedicated team of correspondents goes on the road to gauge what citizens in key swing states make of the choice for president. This week they focus on the second assassination attempt on Donald Trump. Mark Stone travels to Florida where the foiled attack took place, James Matthews has been finding out more on the would-be assassin in his home town of Greensboro, North Carolina. Plus, Martha Kelner attended a Trump townhall in Flint Michigan to hear him speak for the first time after the attempt on his life, and asks voters if it will impact the way they vote in November. Keep up with all the latest in our US election liveblog and check out the Sky News poll tracker. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont

Can you fix the prison service?
In a rare insight into the prisons crisis, a serving governor at one of the UK's crowded jails has spoken anonymously to Sky News about conditions inside, the reality of early release and why we should rethink who is put behind bars. "There is a smell that you would always associate with prison. It's the smell of unwashed bodies," they told Sky News. On this episode, Niall Paterson speaks to former prison governor Professor Ian Acheson, author of the book 'Screwed - Britain's Prison Crisis and How to Escape It', about the prison environment, and how systemic a problem it has become. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont

The riots have gone but the anger remains…
In Hull, in the aftermath of summer riots that saw an asylum hotel attacked, shops looted, and cars burned, two strong feelings remain. Resentment over a perceived strain placed on local services by asylum seekers and anger from the feeling that politicians are ignoring their concerns. On this episode, Niall Paterson is joined by producer Sarah O’Connell, who recently visited Hull to meet residents who witnessed the violence in the city on 3 August. They discuss how locals feel that they aren’t listened to, and the deprivation that some in the city experience every day. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth

'Let’s finish the job’ - Ed Davey at the Lib Dem conference
Ed Davey told the Liberal Democrat party conference that he would "cut through the government's doom and gloom" and plans to "vanquish what's left of the Conservative Party". With attention-grabbing stunts, which this week extended to arriving at the conference on a jet ski, and a record-breaking 72 seats in parliament making them the third biggest party, can the Lib Dems keep the momentum going? Niall Paterson sits down on Brighton's pebble beach with our political correspondent Rob Powell, to debrief on the gimmicks, the conference, and Ed Davey's speech. Plus, Niall catches Lib Dem MPs Tim Farron, Layla Moran, and Calum Miller to get their reaction to Davey's speech and their party's ambitions. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont

'Never surrender!' - Trump defiant after another assassination attempt
Donald Trump has faced a second assassination attempt while playing golf in Florida. The accused, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, is said to have fled the scene but was eventually arrested and charged with federal gun crimes. With just seven weeks out from election day, how will voters react to the apparent second bid on Trump's life? Niall Paterson is joined by Scarlett Maguire, director of JL Partners pollsters, to explore what the polls suggest about the race for the White House, and what the latest attempt on Trump could mean for them? Plus, Sir Keir Starmer is in Rome to meet with his Italian counterpart, right-winger Giorgia Meloni. On the agenda is tackling illegal migration, and the prime minister has said he is "interested" in an offshore migration deal Italy has struck with Albania. But the home secretary has said it is not on the cards "at the moment". Our political correspondent Darren McCaffrey is in Italy and discusses with Niall what Sir Keir seeks to learn from Meloni's approach to immigration, and the unease some in his party have to strengthening their relationship. Producers: Tom Pooley, Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont

"They're eating the dogs! They're eating the cats! " It's the 2024 US Election campaign
With eight weeks before the US goes to the polls, Sky’s dedicated team of correspondents goes on the road to gauge what citizens in key swing states make of the choice for president. This week, James Matthews has been to Bucks County in Pennsylvania to see what voters in that crucial state made of the debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.Meanwhile, Mark Stone has been investigating claims Mr Trump made at that debate that immigrants in Ohio are eating people's cats and dogs. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Philly Beaumont

'Reform or die': Can technology save the NHS?
Sir Keir Starmer has said the NHS must "reform or die" following Lord Darzi's damning report which paints a grim picture of the state of the health service. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to health correspondent Ashish Joshi about what the prime minister has promised to do to save it. Among the promises is moving from an "analogue to a digital NHS". Niall speaks to medical tech entrepreneur Dr Ben Maruthappu about how the NHS can better use technology and AI to become more efficient and future-proof. Producer: Rosie Gillott Podcast promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Philly Beaumont

Harris-Trump Debate: Who came out on top?
Vice president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have gone head to head for the first time. In a fiery 90 minutes, Ms Harris attacked the former president over his criminal convictions and the size of the crowds at his rallies, while Mr Trump doubled down on claims the Democrats had damaged the US economy. Mark Austin is joined by US correspondent James Matthews from the floor of the debate hall for this episode of the Daily to go through the key moments from the debate, and look at the impact a surprise entry from pop mega-star Taylor Swift could have ahead of the election in November. Audio credit: ABC News Presidential Debate Producer: Soila ApparicioEditor: Philly Beaumont

Prisoners celebrate - but is early release good news?
On Tuesday, 1,700 prisoners were released early from their sentences in the first phase of Labour's plan to tackle overcrowding. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson says the prisoners will serve the rest of their sentence under the strictest licensing conditions, but there are questions over whether this is a long-term solution as currently 2,000 prisoners are recalled every month for breaching their release licence. Daily host Matt Barbet is joined by sky correspondent Mollie Malone who's been speaking to some of those set for early release, and home editor Jason Farrell explains the size of the issue the new government is facing when it comes to the state of our prisons. 👉 Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts 👈 Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Rosie GillottPodcast promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Philly Beaumont

The war nobody is talking about
Sudan has suffered three domestic wars spanning well over 40 years of the country's 67 years of independence. Millions of people have been displaced and thousands killed. Now a joint investigation by Sky News, Lighthouse Reports, Washington Post and Le Monde has uncovered the gruesome details of a massacre which took place last year - one of the first episodes of ethnically motivated atrocities in this latest war. On the Sky News Daily Tom Cheshire talks to Africa Correspondent Yousra Elbagir and Klaas van Dijken, investigations director of Lighthouse about this report and why more needs to be done to help the Sudanese. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont

Is it really possible to “smash” the smuggling gangs?
This year has been the deadliest on the English Channel in three years. Six children and a pregnant woman are among the twelve who died on Tuesday after their boat sank off the French coast, bringing the number killed in 2024 to nearly 40. Today, the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is hosting a summit aimed at smashing the criminal gangs that send the boats across the Channel. On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson speaks to Rob Lawrie, former British Army soldier, aid volunteer, and people smuggling investigator for the podcast series To Catch a Scorpion and The Smugglers' Trail. He’s also joined by Danny Shaw, former adviser to Yvette Cooper and crime commentator, to discuss how the new government will deal with illegal migration. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker

Will new sewage dumping laws work?
The government is bringing in new laws which will see stiffer penalties for water companies and possible jail sentences for their bosses if they don't deal with sewage problems. The environment secretary, Steve Reed, chaired a meeting attended by the water industry, investors and campaigners where he announced a landmark review into how the industry works. Niall Patterson spoke to our business correspondent, Paul Kelso, who was there for his assessment of what it could mean for the companies and bill payers. Plus, as the police investigating the Grenfell Tower fire warn it could be at least a year until they hand over evidence to prosecutors, Niall speaks to Chris Daw KC, author of Justice On Trial, on why it is going to take so long for the survivors and bereaved families to get justice. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Wendy Parker

Grenfell: What happens to those the inquiry blames?
All 72 deaths were "avoidable", according to the final Grenfell Tower inquiry report, which found "decades of failure" led to the tragedy. The inquiry lasted six years and concluded there was "systematic dishonesty" from cladding firms, "complacency" from governments and an "inappropriate" relationship between inspectors and those they were inspecting. Niall Paterson is joined by our science and technology editor Tom Clarke to look at the findings and recommendations of the Grenfell Tower inquiry, and how the fire was the final, fatal link in a chain of unimaginable human failure. Also, our home news correspondent Rachael Venables speaks to survivors and families of the people who died about what they want to happen next. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse and Soila Apparicio Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John Editor: Wendy Parker

Why are Grenfell safety laws being ignored by building owners?
Sky News has found out that legislation introduced after the Grenfell Tower fire to force building owners to fix serious fire safety issues is not being enforced, leaving thousands of people trapped in unsafe flats. Children who survived the Grenfell fire, which killed 72 people, have told Sky News 'justice' for them would be for the dangerous cladding to be removed from all UK buildings. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to communities correspondent Becky Johnson who's met residents around the country fighting to get their homes made safe. Plus, he hears from correspondent Rachael Venables who has been meeting children who survived the fire. Producers: Rosie Gillott & Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Wendy Parker

Ticket troubles – can there be a better system?
After a long Saturday for millions of Oasis fans in online queues, the culture secretary says surge pricing will be part of the government’s review of the ticket market. Niall speaks to secondary ticketing site Viagogo on this episode. While it wasn’t part of dynamic pricing, it has offered resale tickets for thousands of pounds since Saturday. Matt Drew from the company accepts the industry needs a full review while Adam Webb, from the campaign group FanFair Alliance, explains the changes it would like to see. Later, our data and forensics correspondent Tom Cheshire tells Niall about how a rise in online propaganda has helped the Afghan branch of Islamic State become “the greatest external terror threat”. It’s been linked to the concert hall attack in Moscow and the plot to disrupt Taylor Swift gigs in Austria. Producers: Soila Apparicio, Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth

Politics is back - so what's in store for Autumn?
Politics returns to Westminster next week, with a Conservative leadership race, Labour's first budget, and party conference season around the corner. Host Liz Bates sits down with our deputy political editor Sam Coates to look ahead to what's in store for Prime Minister Keir Starmer when it comes to the trade unions and his first big budget. And Liz and Sam discuss the Tory frontrunners vying to be his main opposition. Plus, Sam's podcast Politics At Jack And Sam's is back every weekday morning from Monday, where he and POLITCO's UK editor Jack Blanchard explain what you need to know about the day's political news. That's out about 7.30am. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Paul Stanworth Promotions producer: David Chipakupaku

The end of a smoke in the beer garden?
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has confirmed the government is looking at tougher rules on outdoor smoking to reduce the number of preventable deaths linked to the habit and relieve pressure on the NHS. The government has yet to confirm exactly what the changes could look like, but smoking could soon be banned in pub gardens, outdoor restaurants, and outside hospitals and sports grounds. Host Liz Bates heads to one of Westminster's most famous pubs to explore why Labour are planning these changes, with our chief political correspondent Jon Craig. The NHS Confederation's Dr Layla McCay explains the impact extending the smoking ban could have not just on public health, but on the economy as well, and Kate Nicholls from UKHospitality tells us the concerns her industry has about the proposals. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse & Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John

Scrapping Winter Fuel Allowance: Could there be another way?
Around 10 million people in England and Wales will not receive winter fuel payments this winter. Under Chancellor Rachel Reeves' plan, only those who receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits will still get the £200-£300 towards the cost of their energy bills. Critics, including Labour MPs, have said the payments will put even more pressure on elderly people as the cap on energy prices rises again in October. On this episode, Liz Bates gets a breakdown of Labour’s plan, from our political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh, and hears from one of its critics, Labour back-bencher Rachael Maskell. Plus, could there be an alternative that could keep everyone happy? We hear from the Social Market Foundation’s Sam Robinson about its proposal for an alternative to the winter fuel allowance. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John

Oasis reunite: Terry Christian on what made them special
After 15 years, brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher have announced they’ll reunite for a tour next year. On this Sky News Daily episode, Terry Christian, the man who gave the band their national debut on The Word, says he "didn't think there was anything special" when first seeing Oasis live, but the band's "vibe" and Liam's "confidence" made them "amazing". Host Liz Bates also hears from Neil McCormick, the Telegraph's chief music critic and Katie Spencer, our entertainment correspondent. Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth Promotions producer: Jada-Kai Meosa John

What are the takeaways from Kamala Harris's speech?
Kamala Harris accepted the Democratic nomination for president and laid out her election pitch to millions of voters at the party's national convention. As well as offering more of her backstory, she promised unity and to move from the "divisive battles" of American politics. On this episode, Niall Paterson asks our US correspondent Mark Stone what we learnt about Kamala Harris and how a re-energised campaign against Donald Trump may now play out.Producer: Soila ApparicioEditor: Paul Stanworth

GCSE results: Why grades don't tell the full story
Are GCSEs the best thing for 16-year-olds to show as they leave secondary education? Is there a better method to assess what they've achieved in school and to set them up for their next step? Niall Paterson explores the future for GCSEs on this episode – and asks why where you live can affect the grades you get. He speaks to two headteachers - Becky Arnold at Framingham Earl high school near Norwich, and Farhan Adam at Crown Hills Community College in Leicester who was awarded "headteacher of the year" in 2023. Plus, Louis Hodge of the research organisation Education Policy Institute (EPI) joins Niall to discuss the "disadvantage gap" in today's GCSE results. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth

'It's going to be grim': Ed Conway on the state of public finances
Official data shows government borrowing in July was above expectations and at its highest since the pandemic. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) expected borrowing to be £46.6bn - instead it reached £51.3bn. Our economics and data editor Ed Conway joins Niall Paterson to talk about the unexpected rise in government borrowing and Chancellor Rachel Reeves' options at the October budget. Plus, chief political correspondent Jon Craig discusses how long Labour's claim they are dealing with inherited problems will stand. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Wendy Parker

Superyacht sinks: What do we know?
A British-flagged superyacht has sunk off the coast of Sicily, leaving at least one person dead and six others missing. Among those still lost are British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, the chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley International Jonathan Bloomer, and Chris Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance. It's believed the yacht was struck by a sudden and powerful storm in the early hours of Monday morning. Mike Lynch, known by some as the "British Bill Gates", was recently cleared after a high-profile fraud trial relating to the $11bn sale of his software giant Autonomy to US company Hewlett Packard. Niall Paterson speaks to our correspondent in Sicily, Ashna Hurynag, to hear about the causes of the yacht's sinking and the investigation into what happened. Plus, Danny Fortson, West Coast correspondent for The Sunday Times, talks about interviewing Mike Lynch only a few weeks ago.Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse, Laura FitzPatrickEditor: Paul Stanworth

Prison overcrowding: Can the police and the courts cope?
An emergency plan to try to ease prison overcrowding has been started by the government – as courts continue to hear cases involving those accused of rioting earlier in the month. Across northern England and parts of the Midlands, those waiting for a court appearance will now be held in police cells until there’s a prison place for them. “Operation Early Dawn” was started on Monday morning. On this episode, Niall Paterson assess the potential impact on courts and the police. He speaks to Mark Fairhurst, national chair of the Prison Officers’ Association, Philip Jones, custody lead at the National Police Federation and Sky communities correspondent, Becky Johnson. Becky also explains the context and longer-term plan for the prison system. Producers: Soila Apparicio, Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth

Can Taylor Swift really bring a £1bn economic gold rush?
Musician and billionaire Taylor Swift is so influential that a new economic term has been coined to refer to her impact: 'Swiftonomics'. From concerts and tours to merchandise and deals, the power of Swift's brand not only earns her money but boosts economies by millions. One estimate suggests that on the latest leg of her Eras Tour, Swift's fans are expected to bring in £300m to London alone, as the capital hosts more shows than any other city in the world. On this episode, Niall Paterson is joined by our entertainment reporter Gemma Peplow to learn more about the appeal of Swift and her place in the music industry. Niall is also joined by Maria Psyllou, assistant professor in economics at the University of Birmingham, to analyse 'Swiftonomics' and its impact. In this episode, we discuss the average amount spent on going to a Taylor Swift gig. The figures come from a report published by Barclays earlier this year.Producer: Rosie Gillott Editor: Paul Stanworth

Can universities make their sums work?
Can universities make their sums work? As students nervously receive their A-level results, many of the universities they'll enrol in are facing their own concerns over what's next... Academics have warned that years of underfunding and a lack of lucrative international students at British universities after visa changes risks the sector's ability to provide top-class education and, for some institutions, whether they'll be able to keep teaching at all. On this episode, Niall Paterson is joined by two university vice-chancellors, Professor Jane Harrington at Greenwich and Professor David Maguire at East Anglia, to hear the realities and challenges faced by universities across the country. Plus, our business correspondent Paul Kelso explains why higher education is facing the crisis it's in now. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Paul Stanworth

Inflation nudges up – what can we expect from the economy this autumn?
The inflation rate is up for the first time this year. Prices went up by 2.2% in the year until July – moving the rate above the Bank of England target of 2%. Experts had expected an uptick as energy prices are falling by less than they did a year ago. The increase doesn't seem to change hope for further interest rate cuts in the months to come – but what else can we expect from the economy this autumn as the new government continues to warn about the economic "challenges" it's inherited and as the chancellor prepares her first budget for late October? Joining Niall Paterson is our business correspondent Paul Kelso and political correspondent Darren McCaffrey. You can read more of Paul’s in-depth analysis on the Sky News website and app here. Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth Promotion Producer: David Chipakupaku

How Ukraine’s invasion crossed Putin’s ‘red line’
A week after Ukraine invaded the Kursk region of western Russia - when around 1,000 troops surprised analysts by storming across the border - Russia’s President Vladimir Putin vowed to “kick the enemy out of our territory”. But has the success of Ukraine’s incursion threatened his grip on power? On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke to explore the reasoning behind the timing of the invasion, and Peter Dickinson, editor of the UkraineAlert blog for the Atlantic Council based in Kyiv, explains how the invasion has exposed the weakness of Putin’s ‘red lines’. Producer: Rosie Gillott Podcast promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

What's Iran up to?
Middle Eastern nations are scrambling to protect a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and prevent a regional conflict. There are reports of imminent Iranian and Hezbollah retaliation on Israel, as the United States moves military assets to the region. Joining Niall Paterson on the Sky News Daily is our Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall, and military expert Michael Clarke, to hear about the mood in Jerusalem, the risks of war, and what Iran what might be about to do. Producer: Soila Apparicio Editor: Philly Beaumont

What happens after an Olympics?
The Olympics in Paris ends this weekend – as it gears up for the Paralympics. But what legacy does such a huge event leave for athletes and a host city? Team GB's Jess Roberts won a bronze in the cycling women's team pursuit, but she almost quit the sport because of injury. She joins Matt Barbet alongside Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of Britain's greatest Paralympic athletes, to discuss how athletes reset mentally and physically after the games. Plus, Rob Harris, our sports correspondent speaks with Matt from Paris, to discuss what future Olympic cities will learn from Paris. Producers: Soila Apparicio, Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Paul Stanworth

Starmer's first big test: How well did the PM handle the riots?
Thousands of anti-racism protesters gathered across England and formed human barriers to protect asylum centres after police warned of more than 100 far-right-led rallies on Wednesday night. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Tawhid Islam, Trustee at Liverpool Region Mosque Network, who we spoke to on the last episode, after the protests his community feared were overshadowed by those voicing support. Plus, our people and communities correspondent Nick Martin on how swift justice may have deterred protesters and delivered a political victory for the new government. Producers: Emma Rae Woodhouse Editor: Philly Beaumont

'Unease and fear': How communities are feeling about the riots
The UK is bracing itself for more than 100 protests across the country – with thousands of specialist officers on standby. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson speaks to Tawhid Islam, Trustee at Liverpool Region Mosque Network, about the dread and fear hanging over the Muslim community. He also discusses what the community is doing to protect those most vulnerable to the violence. Plus, health correspondent Ashish Joshi tells of how NHS staff are also now facing racist abuse, which could lead to a refusal of emergency medical care. Producers: Alex Edden and Emma Rae Woodhouse Social media: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont